Pope prays for lives cut short by war

Pope Francis visits some of the graves in Rome's Military Cemetary. Image Vatican Media.

On All Souls' Day yesterday Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Rome's Military Cemetery. In his homily - delivered off-the-cuff, without the aid of notes - the Pope remembered those who have gone before us, particularly those whose lives have been "cut short" by war.

He said: "A celebration like today, brings with it two thoughts: memory and hope."

All Souls' Day, he said, brings to mind "the people who went before us", both "those who did good" and "those who did not do so much good, but … were received in God's mercy."

At the same time, Pope Francis suggested, the commemoration brings to mind "hope, which is memory looking forward."

We hope, he said, for a future encounter in God's Kingdom "with everyone", saints and sinners alike.

The Pope then reflected on the graves of the soldiers buried nearby.

"I would like to dwell on something that happened to me at the entrance to the cemetery", he said.

"I was looking at the age of these fallen soldiers. The majority [died] between 20 and 30. Lives cut short, lives without a future, here."

"I thought of the parents, the mothers who received that letter: 'Madam, I have the honour of informing you that your son is a hero.' 'Yes, a hero, but they took him away from me.' "

"So many tears in these lives cut short."

Looking at these graves, Pope Francis said, "I could not help but think of today's wars."

There are, he said, "so many deaths. Life is destroyed without any awareness."

Echoing an appeal he has made consistently over the past few months, the Pope said, "Wars are always a defeat. Always."

"Let us pray to the Lord for our dead," he urged, "for everyone. May the Lord receive them all."

"And may the Lord also have mercy on us and give us hope; hope that we might be able to go on and be with Him when He calls us."